Monroe County oath of office ceremony slated for Jan. 3

A ceremony to mark the new terms for several Monroe County officials will take place Jan. 3 at the Monroe County Courthouse.

The oath of office for Monroe County commissioners and judicial officials will be held Jan. 3 at the Monroe County Courthouse.

The swearing-in by District Court Judge Jack Vitale, chief judge for the county, will be at 5 p.m. in Judge Michael A. Weipert’s courtroom on the third floor of the Courthouse, 125 E. Second St.

The ceremony will precede the commissioners’ first meeting of the new year at 7 in the board meeting room on the first floor of the annex.

“It’s an important occasion to take the oath,” County Administrator Michael Bosanac said. “We do a larger, more prominent oath of office ceremony on the four-year presidential election to include the county officers.”

Judge Weipert will give a welcome and Judge Vitale will provide some remarks as part of the event.

A short reception for the officials and their families and guests will follow the oath in the first-floor meeting room.

The swearing-in will include each of the four-year elected office holders — sheriff, prosecutor, clerk, treasurer, drain commissioner and surveyor, Mr. Bosanac said.

Also, those judges who were re-elected to new terms — Circuit Judge Mark Braunlich, Judge Vitale and Judge Weipert — also will have the oath given to them. The last to be sworn in are the nine commissioners.

“This county has a tremendous working relationship among its leaders and this event is an exhibit of that when we come together for this important oath for all of our elected officials and our judiciary,” the administrator said. “It helps illustrate this as these leaders take their oath together on the same evening and pledge to carry out their duties in service to their community. Chief Judge Vitale is a big part of this and graciously welcomes the opportunity to participate in the event.”

The commissioners board will discuss organizational items at the start of their meeting. Clerk Sharon Lemasters will preside over the meeting until the board elects its officers for 2017.